Blackwood is a duo that draws upon the wide ranging performance experience of composer/organist/pianist Peter-Anthony Togni and bass clarinetist/composer Jeff Reilly. Together these two musical soul-searchers have toured the world with the trio Sanctuary, released concertos for bass clarinet and choir on the German label ECM, as well as creating string orchestra concertos and full length works for solo bass clarinet and vocal quartet on the Montreal based label ATMA classique.
In Blackwood, Togni and Reilly explore the full range of their musical experience, from modality to modernism, in a sound that has the precision of gesture and clarity of focus that blurs any simple distinctions between improvisation and composition, and does so with a musicality and sensitivity that reminds us that such distinctions are moot. Together they have played hundreds of concerts touring Russia, China, Europe and North America performing in a range of contexts: jazz, contemporary classical, choral, orchestral, string orchestra, and Gamelan orchestra.
The glue that holds them together is a common love of improvisation, a passion for taking musical risks, and a deep desire to to connect with their audience. Long time collaborators at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, they have been playing and creating music together since 1998. To view videos of the duo and hear Blackwood sounds visit Jeff Reilly’s website.
Release of Passages – new album from Blackwood
Sanctuary Concerts announces the release of Passages (SCCD 007), a new recording from Blackwood duo Peter-Anthony Togni (pipe organ) and Jeff Reilly (bass clarinet) with special guest India Gailey. The release date is set for October 18th, 2024.
October 2024 – Halifax, NS Canada
Inspired by plainchant, free improvisation and holy minimalism (think Arvo Part meeting up with Bram Stoker) Blackwood members Jeff Reilly and Peter-Anthony Togni join up with cellist India Gailey to release this new album PASSAGES.
While their previous release Lost and Found featured exclusively tracks with Peter-Anthony Togni on piano, PASSAGES focus on the pipe organ. Recorded on 3 different organs across the maritime provinces of Atlantic Canada PASSAGES’ sound is rich, mysterious and lyrical.
Peter and Jeff are honoured and delighted to be joined by the cellist, composer, and improviser India Gailey, a rising star based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, who appears on 2 tracks from this album. India adds her wonderful musicianship and powerful improvisations to the sound of this project.
Find out more and support the artists directly by ordering your digital or physical copies of Passages and Lost and Found on bandcamp.
Bandcamp link
Release of Lost and Found – debut album from Blackwood
Award-winning composer and pianist Peter-Anthony Togni and bass clarinetist Jeff Reilly join forces to release their first single with their duo BLACKWOOD.
You can stream or download UNCOUNTABLE today!
July 16, 2021 – Halifax, NS. Canada – Uncountable is Peter-Anthony Togni’s meditation on the infinite beauty and grace of the natural world. It is the first single from Blackwood’s album “Lost and Found” set to be released on September 24th, 2021. “Lost and Found” is Peter-Anthony Togni and Jeff Reilly’s collection of compositions inspired by subjects ranging from the power of dreams, the birth of children and grandchildren, the natural world and medieval plainchant. Composed both individually and collectively over a two-year period, this new album reflects the sum total of their shared musical experience.
Blackwood: mystical, dark and full of heart.
Full Album released: September 24th, 2021
I was smitten by Togni’s atmospheric force… and the virtuoso bass clarinettist Jeff Reilly extends his cadenzas across the history of sound, from monody to modernism in a performance that is dominant and hypnotic. There is something epiphanic about this music… resist it if you can.
Norman Liebrecht, La Scena Musical
Yesterday morning (or was it Xmas day?) I believe you hosted a program and played a chant by Bhutan Monks. I missed the info on the source. Would it be possible to send that to me?
Thank you
ew
Hello Peter,
Just a not to say I very much enjoyed the Lamentatio Jeremiae Prophetae: Concert for bass clarinet and Choir – CD; this is such a great accomplishment and appropriate recognition of your work; I am l will feature the CD on an upcoming DEOTS show soon… hope to play much of the recording.
I trust that all will go well with your travels and musical projects in the year ahead. Do keep us posted with a news letter if you think this might be possible to send out to us; we are listening!
Sincerely,
Lamont McLachlan B.D.Comm.D. , M.A.
Founder / Producer / Host
Dark End Of The Street (est. 1986)
[9:00 – 10:30 PM Monday evenings]
CKDU-FM Radio 88.1 FM
Halifax ~ Nova Scotia ~ Canada
eMail Address:
deots@ns.sympatico.ca
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DEOTS Radio on MySpace:
Dark End of the Street Radio
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Station Archive / Internet Site:
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Hi Peter, on Sunday, December 20, the In Concert show was cancelled and in its place you hosted some live broadcasts from Europe. Could you possibly help me to locate the podcast of the Czech broadcast which aired at 12 noon in Edmonton?
I have been unable to find ANY reference to these European broadcasts anywhere on the CBC Radio website. Please help! 🙂 Thanks.
veryounique at hot mail dot com
Zenph techno this AM on Radio2 was riveting. I was driving or I’d have responded immediately. Thanks so much. I’ve also posted something on Togni in the Tempo Chair blog. Cheers. And thanks again.
Welcome back to weekday mornings, if only for seven days. I have listened to you over the course of several years as you did your daily morning show, moved to “Weekender”, and now to “Choral Concert”.
I listen to the second hour of “Choral Concert” as I am driving home from church. The programme is terrific.
Thanks.